i try not to do too much on new moon days. especially when they are cold and wet like today is.

my indian astrological advisor (who happens to be a tall white man from texas) told me, "The lord of your rising sign is in the 8th house, which represents death. You were born on the new moon day, which represents death. Because the moon was completely dead."

8 or 9 years ago i had the great fortune to meet swami Bramhadev at his forest ashram in B.R. hills in Karanataka, South India. His humble and gentle nature, devotion to his teacher swami nirmalananda and the delicious food he lovingly prepared for us made an impression on me that i will never forget. Over the years our paths have crossed a again, and each time he continues to inspire me.

While I was in Mysore in 2007 he made a rare appearance at the yoga shala and invited a few of us for lunch and gave a brief and informal talk afterwards. i caught some of it on video:

in this first video he talks about divine qualities and how they give us more power, more energy, more peacefulness, more ananda, more independence....then you are like king of kings

there is something different than speechwhen you are observing deep silencemore tasty and more sweetysweeter than ice creamsweeter than any pudding.......

my friend sean took this picture of me at yoyogi park last week. i was doing my most "spiritual" pose, the one in which i look up to the cosmos in a contemplative and all knowing gaze. but as always, i look like some wanna be tough guy from brooklyn. no matter where you go....there you are!

There is still time and a few spaces left for those brave and blessed souls who want to join the good people of namarupa magazine and me on a pilgrimage through some of the holy cities of North India. The trip includes Hindu festivals, music programs, temple visits, vegetarian food, daily yoga practice, hiking and camping in the Himalayas, satsang with local swamis and bathing in the sacred river Ganga.

Tebori or traditional Japanese tattoo involves using a set of needles attached to the end of a handle made of wood or metal. The tattooist dips the needles in ink and creates a tattoo by pressing the needles rapidly and rhythmically into the skin. ever since i got work done by horitakus ototosan horizakura (shinji) in nYc i prefer this style to electric machines.for an extra thrill, TURN UP THE VOLUME.